Preparations continue for the 78th annual Mac’s Toy Fund party.

Boy Scout Troop 103 is ready and waiting to repair bikes that can be given away at the Dec. 20 event at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. Tickets for the party are distributed by the Department of Health and Human Resources.

Anyone who has bikes to donate can drop them off behind the convention center or at Beckley Fire Station No. 3 on Eisenhower Drive.

While Mac’s purchases new toys for distribution at the party, used toys are needed as well. Used toys can be dropped off at BJW Printing, 3100 Robert C. Byrd Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Cheerleaders from Shady Spring Middle and High schools are sponsoring a drive for coats for children and adults. Drop-off sites for coats are Shady Spring Elementary School, Shady Spring Middle, Shady Spring High, Ghent Elementary, Daniels Elementary, Sherry’s Diner in Shady Spring, the Cancer Center on Dry Hill Road in Beckley, Raleigh General Hospital cafeteria, First Community Bank (Daniels, Beckley and Brookshire Lane), CVS in Beaver, Kroger in Beaver and on Harper Road and at Beckley Crossing, United Bank’s Raleigh Mall location, Big Lots in Beckley, The Galleria Chick-fil-A and Chateaux Interiors. Hats, gloves and scarves also will be accepted.

Donations of used toys and coats will be accepted at Beckley Newspapers’ offices at 801 N. Kanawha St., Beckley. Items can be dropped into two boxes that will be set up in the vestibule; one will be marked for toys, the other for coats.

So that the kids can be toasty all over, ministry groups at the Family Worship Center on Pinewood Drive are collecting hats, gloves and mittens to be given out at the party. Anyone who would like to help can contact Karen Elliott at the church.

Monetary donations are needed to pay for some aspects of the annual event. New toys, coats and fruit are just a few of the expenses. Monetary donations will be accepted through the end of the year.

Following are the most recent donors to this year’s campaign:



- Raymond Chandler of Beckley, $25

- Billy and Kathy Lilly of Ghent, in memory of Bill Lilly Sr. and in honor of grandchildren Lorelei and Trace, $250

- Gene Hedrick of Mabscott, $100

- Marvin and Bonnie Lamb of Beckley, in loving memory of our dear sister, Jane Phillips Peters and in honor of our three grandchildren, Traci, Courtney and Eric, $50

- Anonymous, $25

- Warren and Carol Thornhill of Daniels, in honor of our granddaughters Sarah and Abbey, $100

- David and Luella Cook of Daniels, $25

- Patricia Johnston of Beckley, $100

- Tracy and Janie Webber of Beckley, in honor of grandchildren Cassie, Abbey, Maddie, Ansley, Chase, Nicholas and Natalie, $100

- Mary Lee Torrico of Beckley, in memory of husband, Pedro Torrico, and in honor of our children, Pete II, Steve and Susan Rice; in honor of our grandchildren, Eddie and Scott Torrico and Kendra Wyles and Jordan Rice; and our great-granddaughters Kathleen and Anna Torrico; “From all of us, Merry Christmas to all of Mac’s faithful workers,” $100

- In memory of Danny Lester from the neighbors, $50

- Dr. and Mrs. Walter Klingensmith of Beckley, $50

- John and Linda Lee Blankenship of Daniels, $25

- Helen Bowling of Beckley, $50

- Tom and Kathy Thompson and family of Beckley, in memory of Sonny and Helen Thompson, $205



Today’s total: $1,255

Total to date: $6,890



Send donations to:

Mac’s Toy Fund

P.O. Box 2398

Beckley, WV 25802